Behind The Lies by Mark Beckner (the chimp paradox .txt) 📗

them to relieve the pressure. There is a visceral urge to fight off the choking sensation. He concentrates on not relieving the pressure on his neck. He starts to have difficulty taking in air as things start to go black. Just before losing consciousness, he feels the room spinning around him. Finally, he stops breathing and his body lies motionless with his neck held tight in the noose.

12:22 pm

Baker, who had been consulting with the District Attorney, returns to the office and Walker fills him in on the latest DNA results. “If Brad’s DNA matches the unknown DNA from the gloves and Wendy’s nails……….” Walker's voice trails off.

“I’m thinking the same thing,” says Baker. “If it does, you can bet that scratch on Brad’s left cheek didn’t happen at football practice.”

Both detectives feel some sense of remorse. They can’t be sure yet, at least until more test results come in, but it is looking more and more like Aaron was telling the truth.

“We need those results,” says Baker.

1:10 pm

Walker receives an email from Bruce Wiggins with the Sheriff’s Department. He has been able to clean up and enhance the security video from Johnson’s Café and attached it to the email. Walker opens it up to view. The clarity of the subject in the video is not perfect, but Walker is now 90% sure it is Brad McGivens he sees in the video. I knew it, thinks Walker. Walker shows the video to Baker.

“Well, if you ask me, that’s Brad McGivens.”

“I agree,” responds Walker. “And I believe a jury will think so as well.”

1:35 pm

Baker receives a call from Officer Ivey. She informs him that their suspect, Aaron Livingston is at the county hospital in critical condition. She tells him Aaron had tried to hang himself with a sheet. Another inmate heard strange sounds and banging against the cell door and yelled for a guard. They found Aaron hanging from the door handle, unconscious, not breathing, and with no pulse. Jail staff started CPR and were able to get his pulse started again. He was then taken to the hospital by ambulance.

“Oh my god.”

“What is it?” Walker asks.

“Livingston tried to hang himself today. He’s in ICU in critical condition.”

Mrs. Livingston is at her son’s side holding his hand. She gently cries as she softly talks to Aaron, praying he will make it. The attending doctor advises her Aaron suffered some damage to his neck tendons and possibly his larynx. It is too early to know if Aaron suffered any serious brain damage. He is on a ventilator and doctors have induced a coma. At this point, it is not clear Aaron will live. If Aaron makes it through the night and his vitals have improved, they will try to get him off the ventilator tomorrow morning. And if that goes well, they will attempt to wake him later in the day. Doctors can then start to assess the level of brain damage.

At 4:45 pm, detectives finally receive the call they have been waiting for. Freeman tells Walker the male DNA samples from inside both gloves and from underneath Wendy’s nails are a match to the DNA of Brad McGivens. He also cannot be eliminated as a contributor to the mixed DNA on the yellow scarf.

“We got him,” announces Walker. “Brad’s DNA matches the gloves and nails”

“I’m going to update the Chief and the DA, then let’s get working on another arrest warrant,” responds Baker. Neither says anything else, but both detectives are regretting not giving more weight to Aaron’s story.

By 7:00 pm, they have the affidavit ready and once again respond to the residence of the on-call judge. “This is getting to be a habit,” says the judge as he takes the affidavit from Walker.

“Sorry judge, but we didn’t want to wait until tomorrow. This was a brutal murder.”

“Oh, no problem,” says the judge as he starts to read the affidavit. “This Brad character sounds dangerous.”

The judge signs the warrant for Brad’s arrest and attaches a bond amount of $1,000,000. “Here you go, now go get him,” he says as he hands Walker the warrant.

By 7:45 pm, Walker and Baker are back at the front door of the McGivens’ home. This time, Mike McGivens, Brad’s father, answers the door. “Brad is not going to talk to you detectives.”

“We’re not here to talk Mr. McGivens, we have an arrest warrant for Brad,” says Baker.

“Do you have a search warrant?”

“No, just an arrest warrant. We need to see Brad now,” continues Baker.

“You are not getting in here without a search warrant.”

“Mr. McGivens, this warrant allows us to come here and arrest your son. We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” warns Baker. “This warrant allows us to enter the home Brad lives in to make the arrest if necessary. We are not here to search your home. Do I need to call for more officers to help us make this arrest?”

Mr. McGivens stands staring at the detectives. Nothing is said for a few seconds. “Alright, you can step inside and I will get Brad. But he did not commit any crime and I will sue both of you and the city for this outrageous conduct.”

Before taking Brad to the county jail for booking, they transport him to the police department. Without his parents around, they are hoping Brad will talk to them. They walk Brad to the interview room, a small room with light gray walls, a small featureless table, and three metal-framed plastic chairs. A small microphone is on the table with a camera mounted on the wall opposite the table. As they walk in and seat Brad, Walker turns the recording equipment on.

“We would like to hear your side of the story, Brad,” explains Walker, “but first we need to read you your Miranda Rights.” After reading Brad his rights, Walker asks if he would be willing to answer some questions. To his surprise, Brad agrees.

“Go ahead Brad, tell us your side of what happened the night